Impact of the Safe Routes to School program on walking and biking: Eugene, Oregon study

Policymakers in many countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, have introduced programs to increase walking and biking to school through education, encouragement, and infrastructure improvements. The U.S. government has allocated over $1.1 billion to the federal Safe Rou...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Transport policy 2013-09, Vol.29, p.243-248
Main Authors: McDonald, Noreen C., Yang, Yizhao, Abbott, Steve M., Bullock, Allison N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Australia
Bike
Bolts
Communities
Education
Governments
Infrastructure
Oregon
Parking
Safe Routes to School
School Travel
Schools
Sidewalks
Transport
Travel
United Kingdom
United States
Walk
Walking
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Summary:Policymakers in many countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, have introduced programs to increase walking and biking to school through education, encouragement, and infrastructure improvements. The U.S. government has allocated over $1.1 billion to the federal Safe Routes to School program since 2005. However, there are few evaluations of the Safe Routes to School program. Our study used a robust quasi-experimental research design to measure the impacts of Eugene, Oregon's Safe Routes to School program on walking and biking. Using data collected between 2007 and 2011 at 14 schools with and without Safe Routes to School programs, we showed that the Safe Routes to School program was associated with increases in walking and biking. Education and encouragement programs were associated with a five percentage point increase in biking. Augmenting education programs with additional SRTS improvements such as sidewalks, crosswalks, covered bike parking, and Boltage was associated with increases in walking and biking of 5–20 percentage points. The study results illustrate the potential for the Safe Routes to School program to change behavior and should encourage other communities to plan for multi-modal school travel. •Analysis of 14 schools in Eugene, Oregon showed the SRTS program was associated with increased walking and biking to school.•Education and encouragement programs were associated with a five percentage point increase in biking.•Education combined with other SRTS interventions was associated with increases in walking and biking of 5–20 percentage points.
ISSN:0967-070X
1879-310X
DOI:10.1016/j.tranpol.2013.06.007